When 21 Sikh Soldiers Stood Against 10,000 Afghans: The Real-Life Story Of Battle of Saragarhi
The Battle of Saragarhi, one of the greatest last stands in history was fought on September 12, 1897, by 21 Sikh soldiers of the British India Army against 10,000 Afghans in the Samana Valley of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which was then part of India.
During this battle, all 21 soldiers of the 36 Sikh Regiment fought till their last breath against the Afghan hordes with unprecedented courage and unparalleled valour and went down as superheroes. Here’s the story of the Saragarhi’s legendary battle.
Where is Saragarhi?
Saragarhi was a small village in the Kohat district along with the Samana range (modern-day Pakistan). The British succeeded in gaining control over the Khyber Pakhtunwa region, although they were prone to attacks from rebellious Pashtuns.
Saragarhi served as a communication post between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gullistan which served as headquarters for the British Indian army in the North-Western region, as these two forts were not visible to each other despite being a few miles apart.
What happened in the Battle of Saragarhi?
Fort Gulistan and Fort Lockhart in Afghanistan were two fortresses under British control at the time. The forts would communicate with each other by using mirrors to flash Morse Coded messages. But the distance between them was quite a bit, and so, Saragarhi was set up as a signaling station-to relay message from one end to the other.
21 soldiers from the 36th Sikh Regiment were deputed to guard this post.
September 1897. There are reports of an impending attack on the forts by local Afghan clans. Everyone is on guard. On the morning of 12 September, a sentry at Saragarhi sees a dust cloud rise in the distance. Signalman Gurmukh Singh flashes the message to the two forts.
Word comes back: the tribes are coming. 10,000, maybe 14,000. “Need reinforcements,” Saragarhi flashes the message through their mirrors. “Unable to break through. Hold the fort,” comes the response.
And so they do, over the next six hours, the 21 Sikh soldiers led by Havildar Ishar Singh fight off wave after wave of Afghan warriors. With their 0.303 caliber single-loading rifles, they take aim: every shot is fatal.
Stunned by the casualties, the Afghan forces recoil and try to buy peace: they offer the soldiers riches and a safe passage. But the principled Khalsa warriors refuse. And the battle rages on.
Now, the tribes try another tact: they try to smoke the soldiers out by setting the shrubs nearby on fire. That doesn’t work, but the tribesmen manage to breach the post.
And yet, Havildar Ishar Singh and his men hold on. Low on ammunition, Saragarhi again ask the British command for help. None arrives.
Ishar Singh orders his men to fall back to secure the last line of defense. He himself holds on, with his pistol and sword. He fights one warrior after another. The Sikh casualties are mounting. It’s now down to the last few men.
Even with his life at risk, Signalman Gurmukh Singh flashes a message to his superiors, seeking permission to swap the mirrors for a gun. And then, with a shout of “Jo Bole Sau Nihal, Sat Sri Akal,” the 19-year-old soldier joins the battle.
One after the other, the brave Sikh slashes the invaders, killing nearly 20 of them. Unable to get the last of them, the tribesmen set the fort on fire.
It was reported that 21 Sikh soldiers had killed 600 Afghans, as 600 bodies were found after the battle. The details of the Battle of Saragarhi are considered fairly accurate as Col.
Haughton, who was constantly keeping in touch with Gurmukh Singh, had himself narrated it.
The soldiers were recognized by the British with memorials, a battle honor, and a regimental holiday. All 21 soldiers were awarded the prestigious Indian Order of Merit Class III award.
From that day on, Sep 12 is celebrated as Saragarhi Day in honor of the 21 soldiers who lost their lives in the battle.
Below are the names of 21 soldiers.
- Ishar Singh
- Lal Singh
- Chanda Singh
- Sundar Singh
- Ramm Singh
- Uttar Singh
- Sahib Singh
- Hira Singh
- Daya Singh
- Jivan Singh
- Bhola Singh
- Narayan Singh
- Gurmukh Singh
- Jivan Singh
- Gurmukh Singh
- Ram Singh
- Bhagwan Singh
- Bhagwan Singh
- Buta Singh
- Jivan Singh
- Nand Singh
The Saragarhi Day
Saragarhi Day is a Sikh military commemoration day celebrated on 12 September every year to commemorate the Battle of Saragarhi. Sikh military personnel and civilians commemorate the battle around the world every year on 12 September. All units of the Sikh regiments celebrate Saragarhi Day every year as the Regimental Battle Honours Day.